Eric William Stromayer

Eric William Stromayer, United States Ambassador to Togo (2019-2022)

Diplomatic Career Highlights

Eric William Stromayer joined the U.S. State Department in 1989 and rose to become a career member of the Senior Foreign Service at the Minister-Counselor class. His 36-year diplomatic career included service across Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Europe.

Key Assignments

Management Responsibilities as Executive Director

In his role as Executive Director of the Bureau of African Affairs (2014–2017), Ambassador Stromayer managed a $385 million annual budget supporting 53 U.S. diplomatic posts across Africa. This position placed him in charge of operational oversight for American diplomatic missions throughout the continent—a responsibility that included ensuring equal treatment of American citizens seeking consular services.

Recognition and Departure from Togo

Upon completing his ambassadorship in March 2022, Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey publicly praised Ambassador Stromayer for serving “his country with dignity.” This official commendation stands in stark contrast to the documented discrimination experienced by Sgt. Blas during Stromayer’s tenure.

Educational Background

Language Proficiency

Ambassador Stromayer is fluent in multiple languages, including:

• French (critical for service in Francophone Africa)
• Italian
• Hungarian
• Wolof (West African language)
• Haitian Creole
• Basic Spanish

His extensive language skills and decades of experience in Africa make his discriminatory conduct toward a Black American veteran all the more egregious—this was not ignorance or cultural insensitivity, but deliberate racial exclusion by someone who understood the region and its history intimately.

Reputation and Crisis Management Expertise

Throughout his career, Ambassador Stromayer developed a reputation for crisis management and diplomatic adaptability across challenging environments. He has been described as possessing:

• Strong cross-cultural engagement skills
• Leadership in both development and security diplomacy
• Experience managing complex emergencies and political transitions
• Operational expertise across five continents and seven U.S. missions

Yet these professional qualifications stand in damning contrast to his failure to provide basic consular services to a Black American veteran in distress.

Professional Standards for Ambassadors

As Chief of Mission, ambassadors hold unique responsibilities under U.S. law:

• 3 FAM 1211: Full responsibility for direction, coordination, and supervision of all U.S. government executive branch employees in the country
• 22 U.S.C. § 3927: Authority over all U.S. government personnel under Chief of Mission authority
• Consular services mandate: Ensuring protection and assistance to all U.S. citizens in the host country
• Equal protection obligations: Providing services without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, or other protected characteristics
• Foreign Service Act of 1980: Upholding the highest standards of conduct and representing American values abroad

Ambassador Stromayer violated every one of these fundamental obligations when he denied services to Sgt. Blas based on his race.

The Broader Context: Senior Foreign Service Accountability

Minister-Counselors in the Senior Foreign Service represent the apex of diplomatic careers, typically achieved after 20-30 years of service. At this level, officials are expected to:

• Demonstrate exceptional judgment in representing American interests
• Uphold the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct
• Serve as role models and mentors to junior diplomatic personnel
• Maintain unwavering commitment to equal protection for all American citizens
• Exercise authority with wisdom, fairness, and respect for human dignity

That someone at Ambassador Stromayer’s level of seniority and experience could engage in such blatant discrimination, and that the State Department would take no apparent corrective action, reveals systemic dysfunction in how the Foreign Service polices its most senior members.

Retired Foreign Service Officers and Continued Influence

Retired ambassadors and senior Foreign Service officers often maintain significant influence through:

• Consulting contracts with government agencies and private firms
• Advisory roles on international relations and diplomacy
• Teaching positions at universities and diplomatic training programs
• Speaking engagements and commentary on foreign policy
• Networks and relationships built during decades of government service

Ambassador Stromayer’s current pursuit of “roles in international contracting and diplomacy consulting” suggests he intends to continue leveraging his diplomatic career despite documented discriminatory conduct. This raises concerns about whether organizations engaging his services are aware of his treatment of American citizens based on race.